“The Land Where Lemons Grow” (author Helena Attlee) is a fantastic story of the citrus fruit that is native to Italy. Attlee’s book is a wonderful journey through history from Sicily to Southern Italy and all places where the lemons grow. Once thought of as an exotic fruit, lemons are now used abundantly in our cooking. For me, I enjoy Italian cooking and using lemons in everything from entrees to desserts.

This Italian Lemon Pound Cake is made in a traditional Bundt pan (my is the Anniversary Pan from William Sonoma) even though it is a pound cake recipe. It is super moist in texture and rich with citrus flavor, but not enough to make your lips pucker. I think this is one of the best lemon cake recipes I’ve found.

Italian Lemon Pound Cake

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup butter, softened

2 cups sugar

3 eggs

1/2 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup sour cream such as Daisy or Knudsen

4 TBSP lemon juice

1 tsp. fresh ginger, minced

Zest from 2 lemons (about 2 TBSP) and some for garnish

1 tsp vanilla

Directions:

  1. Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees F. Generously grease the Bundt pan with baking spray, butter or lard. Get all creases or the cake will stick.
  2. Sift flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Set aside.
  3. In a mixing bowl, cream softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Mix in sour cream, lemon juice, vanilla, ginger and 2 TBSP lemon zest.
  4. Mix half of the flour mixture into the butter mixture. Mix in the buttermilk and then add the remaining flour mixture. Mix until the flour disappears.
  5. Pour the cake batter into the prepared Bundt pan.
  6. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes. The cake is ready once a skewer stuck in the middle comes out clean. I check on the cake around 50 minutes to determine the amount of time left. This will depend on your oven.
  7. Remove the cake from the oven and let cool for about 25-30 minutes. Invert onto a cake platter and let cool longer. Once the cake is room temperature glaze or sprinkle it with powdered sugar.
  8. To glaze the cake, use 1 1/2 cups powered sugar mixed well with 3 TBSP lemon juice. The mixture should be smooth but not runny. If it is too stiff to drizzle add a small amount of whipping cream or milk and mix. I continue doing this until it is a consistency that will drizzle and stick to the cake (not be liquidy or runny).

Enjoy! XOXO Jill